Carrier Enterprise to replace its management technology

ORLANDO, FL—Carrier Enterprise (CE) ended 2017 by showing off some of its latest products at HX: The Hotel Experience in New York City. In the new year, the HVAC distributor will continue to pitch its E-TAC product to hoteliers. Additionally, CE is currently developing newer management technology expected to replace its discontinued Founten products line.

“We are in development of a newer technology line that we cannot discuss as of yet,” said Douglas Mackemer, director of parts, supplies and specialized equipment for CE. The new line is expected to be released in summer 2018. Additionally, CE’s new product line will be at a “lower cost for deployment, making it yet more attractive and cost effective for hoteliers.”

Mackemer continued, “CE continues to build on its success in enhancing HVAC energy efficiency. Along with the need to continue reducing sound levels, this is something that will continue to be a market-shaping trend for the foreseeable future.”

As electrical costs rise, hoteliers will look for ways to cut costs; this is where there’s opportunity for the HVAC distributor. “More and more attention is being paid to HVAC equipment electric consumption and cutting back HVAC run time when the guestroom isn’t occupied,” Mackemer said. “We can therefore expect to see more properties leverage systems that provide users with the ability to control temperature settings remotely.”

This is where front desk management interfaces can be helpful to the hotelier. “Using a front desk management interface, hoteliers can instantly lower or turn off the air conditioning for a guestroom the moment that it becomes empty and can effortlessly adjust temperature settings as soon as a new guest arrives in order to eliminate any potential discomfort,” he said.

With regard to the company’s E-TAC product, he noted, “E-TAC units have added multiple speed motors to the outside fan to match with the multi-speed indoor fan. We have also redesigned some of the existing components to provide quieter sound levels. Enhanced programming algorithms have added more consistent guest comfort and stable temperature levels.” More effective sound insulation and a large coil surface area for increased energy efficiencies are also included.

CE’s latest PTAC system, the E-TAC II, consists of a multi-speed indoor motor and multi-speed outdoor motor—both of which are responsible for reducing the product’s noise levels. It took about a year for the HVAC solutions provider to develop the new product (production began back in May 2016).

“We cannot completely divulge our technology and methods of achieving sound reductions, but we are constantly working to minimize the impact of the PTACs on the guest’s comfort,” he said. “Many of the hotel companies have guest-satisfaction standards, and HVAC plays a significant part in that satisfaction and comfort.”

Several industries are leveraging the product, including hospitality, healthcare and education. CE’s HVAC solution has been installed in thousands of facilities across the United States, Mackemer said. The product is installed in many of the major brands in today’s marketplace.

In addition to humidity controls and wireless technology, E-TAC II has a management interface, which gives front-desk associates the ability to control room temperature based on rental or vacancy. “The interface works to cut down energy usage by allowing operation of the units only when the room is rented and occupied,” he said. E-TAC II can also integrate with most property management systems currently available on the market.

How important is air quality to the hotelier? “It’s directly related to guest satisfaction, comfort and health,” he said. “Guests understandably expect a clean environment within their room, and this undoubtedly extends to the quality of air that they breathe.” Poor air quality can negatively impact hotel reputation and future booking rates, especially with the rise in review sites.

CE developed its PTAC Air Knight air purification system to enhance guest satisfaction by aiming to eliminate unhealthy indoor environments, including air pollutants, chemical odors, smoke, mold, bacteria and viruses. “The Air Knight II was designed to meet the need of combating microbes and other contaminants in conditioned spaces,” he said. The Air Knight product, which has been available for the past eight years in the unitary HVAC market, can be mounted in a variety of air conditioning systems and employs an advanced oxidation process consisting of friendly oxidizers reverting back to oxygen and hydrogen after sanitizing pollutants. The Air Knight II will work in many of the units currently out in the market. There are PTAC and ETAC versions.

Part of Air Knight, the PX5 Quint Metallic Matrix Core, composed of five metals, including rhodium, titanium, silver, copper and platinum, creates positive and negative ions along with oxidizers responsible for eliminating odors and pollutants once the air passes through the system. HB

HVAC PRODUCTS

The latest in Friedrich’s in-closet solutions, VRP, introduced last year, utilizes a Precision Inverter Compressor, which enhances performance and reduces sound. The variable capacity matches the unit’s output to actual demand for increased comfort, according to the company; this provides lower energy consumption and improved humidity control.

Friedrich’sductless units can be wall-mounted, or installed in the ceiling and concealed within ductwork. The company recommends this product for exercise rooms, food prep area, laundry rooms, indoor pools and spas, and other facilities.

The GE Zoneline Makeup Air includes an automatic vent door and optional occupancy sensing technology. This design saves energy and money by running the makeup air system only when needed, while allowing the PTAC system to operate independently.